Agnivesh seeks PM's intervention to resolve Dera row

Swami Agnivesh says PM's immediate intervention was necessary to save the "explosive situation" in the interest of peace and national integration.

Swami Agnivesh, who is mediating in the row between Sikhs and Dera Sacha Sauda, on Friday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's immediate intervention to save the "explosive situation" in the interest of peace and national integration.

"We further feel that any loss of time will be at the cost of peace in India in general and in Punjab in particular, knowing fully well that Punjab is a border state and its past history has been a lesson for us," Agnivesh said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Recalling that a delegation of religious leaders led by him assured the Dera chief that if he tendered an apology, no subsequent action would be taken by the Sikh community, he said "we found that while the attitude of Sikh leaders was flexible, that of the Dera chief was one of dilatory tactics".

"We request you that it is the high time that you intervene in this matter immediately to save the explosive situation", Agnivesh said.